Spring recap: Wide receivers

By John F. Silver | May 3, 2013 | 2:56PM

Share:

Connecticut's Shakim Phillips, left, catches a touchdown against Taylor Mack during the UConn's Blue-White spring NCAA college football game at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

UConn is at a crossroads at wide receiver at the end of this spring.

The Huskies have some ability at the top of the depth chart with leading receiver Geremy Davis (6-1, 217) and running mate Shakim Phillips (6-2, 204) locked in as the one and two receivers.

Davis and Phillips competed for time last year with Davis leading the team with 44 catches and 613 yards while Phillips shook off the rust with 32 catches and 399 yards after coming over as a transfer from Boston College and sitting out a year. Davis earned the No. 1 slot and Phillips showed just enough improvement and promise during the year to put the Huskies' wide receiver corps with two athletic, big and experienced receivers going into 2013.

Davis may not be as tall as Phillips, but he is bigger, more muscular and a big target. He has improved his route running and his size creates the separation that his speed doesn't. He's a big target for quarterback Chandler Whitmer and while he hasn't show the YAC that the coaching staff wants, is a dependable receiver who can get open by using his size. Davis is a bit of a gym rat in basketball terms. He was behind Phillips last year and earned the starting job the old-fashioned way by beating him out in summer camp and holding onto it in the fall. He has all the tools to be a terrific college receiver. Not quite a speed guy and isn't going to make many people miss (at his size, that's rare anyway). He can also be a force blocking in running game and is a valuable player.

Phillips is more of the big play guy. He can get open down the field and has deep threat ability. The coaching staff likes to get him going vertical down the sidelines and he and Whitmer have a nice button hook timing play that is not defendable when timed and executed correctly. He's a red zone threat and the Huskies worked on that very much this spring. Even in the spring game, they threw several end zone fades to him down inside the 10. Phillips is bigger than most receivers, though not quite Davis' build. I like his ability and potential and the Huskies do need to continue to get vertical with him.

Those two are by far UConn's most experienced and well-built receivers. Both are juniors so the depth behind them can build with a little less pressure.

After the top 2 are a bunch of question marks and inexperience in a wide receiver corps that has had the most turnover in the last three years.

Right now, in the slot, the staff loves what Deshon Foxx did this spring. The converted running back has high-end speed and can be that home run threat. Nick Williams, who signed with the Redskins, flashed that ability once in awhile, but the offense could never seen to get into a rhythm to start spreading the ball around. If the Huskies can find a running game and get Phillips and Davis deep, Foxx can be a big factor in the slot. He is perfect size, speed and skill set for the position.

I am confident in the top three receivers in Davis, Phillips and Foxx to see the field. The Huskies need a minimum of three more and they would like five more to step in.

That's a lot of receivers. Luckily, there are candidates.

First off is the holdovers in redshirt freshmen Ricky Gutierrez Jr. and John Green ready after sitting out a year. Gutierrez is an athletic receiver at 6-0, 166-pounds that could develop into a downfield threat. Green is a 5-10 160-pound kick-returner type of receiver and is destined for the slot. He's good underneath and making people miss.

The Huskies have Kamal Abrams available, and the junior has had some playing experience in past years and is in the mix as the fourth wideout. Abrams was pushed into action as a true frosh on special teams and with depth, but hasn't had many snaps in two years. It's hard to gauge where and what he is.

The Huskies also had a pair of true freshman in camp in Noel Thomas and Dhameer Bradley. Both are prep school recruits and early enrollments this spring. That puts them on the fast track for development. Thomas is a bigger receiver at 6-1 171-pounds while Bradley is another athletic and quick player at 5-9, 168-pounds. Both are a little older and can step in and play -- there certainly is the need.

Lastly, the Huskies are also welcoming in Brian LeMelle, a decorate recruit out of Pennsylvania with a big offer list. LeMelle profiles as a slot guy right away at 5-11, 175-pounds. He had over 1,500 yards receiving in high school and the staff feels he can come in and challenge for time right away.

The Huskies have two players in Davis and Phillips and a lot of question marks coming out of the spring. Foxx looks like he can be an explosive player, but the offense has to do a better job of exploiting that than they did with Nick Williams a year ago.

After that, it's a lot of new faces that haven't even taken a real snap and gotten hit in college football.

Davis and Phillips room with the quarterback in Whitmer. That's the WR duo that will carry the Huskies in 2013.

Katie Lou Samuelson had 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for UConn (27-0, 14-0 American), which led by as many as many as 32 in the first half and built a lead as large as 48 in the final period.

Read More

Share:

The players give their best Auriemma impressions

Feb 21 | 8:49PM

Share:

The best Geno impressions00:00:52

Various players on the UConn women's basketball team try their hand at some impressions of head coach Geno Auriemma.

Various players on the UConn women's basketball team try their hand at some impressions of head coach Geno Auriemma.

Parkland tragedy hits home for Williams

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A moment of silence was held prior to the start of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's game with Temple Sunday to remember the victims of last Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

UConn All-American Gabby Williams was among those with her head bowed paying tribute. The tragedy hit home for the Sparks, Nevada, native as on Oct. 21, 2013, during her senior year at Reed High, a school shooting at Sparks Middle School left two people, including the 12-year-old perpetrator, dead and two others injured.

"It did happen minutes from my house, obviously not to the same extent, but it is just kind of like enough is enough, and when is something going to change," Williams said following the top-ranked Huskies' 106-45 win. "It hits home because I'm going to have kids who go to school one day and I have little siblings in high school so it definitely hits home."

Samuelson, Huskies keep rolling

Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Katie Lou Samuelson reacts after a play against the Temple Owls in the first half at XL Center. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Katie Lou Samuelson has this habit -- not one of her best, she admits -- of when she drives to the basket and feels contact, she calls out, "And one," looking for a foul call.

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team's junior All-American's aggressive approach has developed since she first arrived here but she has taken her attack mode to another level in the last month even as she deals with an injured left ankle. It's one of the reasons that the buzz around her national Player of the Year candidacy continues to grow.

Samuelson's aggressiveness was rewarded Sunday as she completed a trio of the old-fashioned three-point plays to go along with four of her specialty, the 3-point shot. Her 27 points paced six players in double figures as No. 1 UConn routed Temple 106-45 in American Athletic Conference action before 13,110 at XL Center.

Read More

Share:

UConn beats ECU, 84-80, despite Fleming's triple-double

Feb 18 | 6:24PM

Share:

GEICO SportsNite: UConn00:00:29

The UConn Huskies took on the East Carolina Pirates on the road and earned a narrow 84-80 victory, spurred by Jalen Adams' 26 points.

Connecticut put together one of its best offensive performances of the season. The Huskies needed it, because East Carolina's Isaac Fleming came up with another triple-double.

STORRS, Conn. -- Ten of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's 11 national championship campaigns included winning at least a share of its league's regular season title.

Read More

Share:

Geno Auriemma discusses the most overused terms in coaching

Feb 16 | 7:27PM

Share:

Geno on the most overused terms00:08:07

UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma discusses what he believes the most overused terms are while coaching basketball.

Share:

On the Clock: Geno and Justine

Feb 16 | 5:40PM

Share:

On the Clock: Geno and Justine00:02:09

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about offbeat happenings in the world of sports.

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about offbeat happenings in the world of sports.

Read More

Share:

UConn lose 73-71 to Tulsa; Vital scores 20 points

Feb 15 | 9:50PM

Share:

GEICO SportsNite: UConn loses00:00:56

UConn's Christian Vital had a solid day earning himself a double-double, but the Huskies fell to Tulsa, 73-71, on Thursday night.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Sterling Taplin scored a career-high 30 points and Tulsa beat UConn 73-71, sweeping the season series from the Huskies.

Junior Etou had 15 points and DaQuan Jefferies added 14 for Tulsa (15-10, 8-5), which extended its winning streak to four on Thursday night.

Christian Vital had 13 of his 20 points in the first half for UConn (12-14, 5-8) when the Huskies built up a 12-point lead. The Huskies, who have lost five of their last six, led 40-31 at intermission.

Samuelson, UConn hold off Louisville

Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Katie Lou Samuelson reacts after a play against the Louisville Cardinals in the second half at Gampel Pavilion. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- Whether Katie Lou Samuelson can make a stretch run towards becoming the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's next national Player of the Year while dealing with her injured left ankle remains to be seen.

But it's hard to find many players around the country who are playing better than the Huskies' All-American guard is right now.

Samuelson gave UConn 40 minutes Monday night and scored 26 points as the top-ranked Huskies topped No. 4 Louisville before an announced sellout crowd of 10,167 at Gampel Pavilion.

Read More

Share:

No. 1 UConn wins 25th straight with victory over No. 4 Louisville

Feb 12 | 8:59PM

Share:

GEICO SportsNite: UConn00:00:51

The UConn women's basketball team defeated Louisville, 69-58, on Monday night to improve to 25-0 on the season.

Katie Lou Samuelson scored 26 points and top-ranked UConn used an early run to beat No. 4 Louisville 69-58 on Monday night.

Napheesa Collier added 14 points and Gabby Williams had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Huskies (25-0), who won their 76th consecutive home game and ended Louisville's 13-game road winning streak.

Louisville (25-2) scored the first three points and UConn rattled of 19 straight.

Dailey to be inducted into Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Connecticut Huskies associate coach Chris Dailey reacts during Senior Day before the start of the game against the Tulane Green Wave at Gampel Pavilion. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- The Geno Auriemma-coached 2000 United States U-18 national team was scrimmaging at Colorado College when Duke University-bound Alana Beard finished a stunning drive to the basket.

Auriemma blew his whistle and turned to where his assistant at the University of Connecticut, Chris Dailey, and Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt and her assistant, Mickie DeMoss, were seated in the small gym. They were watching as Team USA's roster included UConn-bound Diana Taurasi and Ashley Battle, and Tennessee-bound Ashley Robinson and Loree Moore.

He then looked over to Summitt and said: "Chris Dailey and Mickie DeMoss should be fired for not recruiting Alana Beard." Summitt nodded her head in agreement. They didn't get fired, though DeMoss did move on to other jobs. But this June they'll be together again in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dailey, the Huskies' associate head coach, is one of seven people who will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2018, it was announced Monday night. She will be the fifth UConn representative in the WBHOF joining Auriemma (Class of 2006) and former players Rebecca Lobo (Class of 2010), Jennifer Rizzotti (Class of 2013) and Kara Wolters (Class of 2017).

UConn, Louisville renew acquaintances

Feb 4, 2018; Syracuse, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Jeff Walz reacts to a play against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports (Rich Barnes)

For nine seasons, they faced off in February, March, or even April.

But when Louisville left the American Athletic Conference for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014, its women's basketball rivalry with the University of Connecticut that saw the teams play 16 times -- including two national championship games and three league tournament finals -- in those nine seasons went with it.

UConn beat Wichita State 124-43, two points shy of program points record,

Feb 10 | 3:30PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Napheesa Collier scored 26 points and Katie Lou Samuelson added 22 points to lead UConn to a 124-43 rout of Wichita State on Saturday in the first meeting between the two programs.

The 124 points was two shy of the program record, which was set against Providence in 1998.

Gabby Williams added 17 points, Azura Stevens 16 and Kia Nurse 14 for the Huskies (24-0, 12-0 American), who won their 75th straight home game, the third longest home winning streak in NCAA history.

In order to beat the University of Connecticut women's basketball team, you have to play them. Central Florida gets to do it as a member of the American Athletic Conference.

"Every time we play them, I think our team understands them more," UCF second-year coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said following the Knights' 55-37 loss to the Huskies at CFE Arena in Orlando Wednesday night.

AAC newcomer Wichita State will get its first experience against No. 1 UConn Saturdaywhen the Huskies open a three-game homestand against the Shockers at the XL Center in Hartford (SNY, 1 p.m.). UConn has won 86 consecutive games against first-time opponents dating back to a loss to Georgia at Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 15, 1996.

Travel-weary Huskies ready for home cooking

Gary Apple and Kara Wolters break down the highlights from the UConn women's basketball team's 55-37 win over UCF on Wednesday night.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Katie Lou Samuelson passes up 80-degree weather about as often as she passes up an open 3-point shot.

But the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's junior All-American and resident California girl was content to trade a warm winter night here for a wintry day in New England if it meant not getting on another plane for almost two weeks.

The top-ranked Huskies wrapped up another trip Wednesday night as Samuelson had 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists in a 55-37 American Athletic Conference win over Central Florida before an announced pro-UConn crowd of 6,155 at CFE Arena. They then headed home where winter and the first three-game homestand of the season awaits.

Huskies ride Williams' winning ways

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Gabby Williams has a unique way of filling a stat sheet, but has never been concerned about her numbers.

The All-American senior forward does make one exception and that's for the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's win total. She has been part of 134 of them heading into Wednesday's American Athletic Conference contest against Central Florida at CFE Arena (SNY, 7 p.m.).

Read More

Share:

On the Clock with Geno and Justine

Feb 6 | 5:00PM

Share:

On the Clock w/ Geno and Justine00:02:06

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about the off-beat things going on in the world of sports.

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about the off-beat things going on in the world of sports.

Huskies' offense thrives at the pass

Connecticut Huskies guard Kia Nurse reacts after her basket against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at XL Center. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- For the first time in program history, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team began a season with four 1,000-point scorers.

They didn't do it on their own.

Seniors Kia Nurse and Gabby Williams and juniors Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson have combined for 5,736 points as Huskies. The foursome tacked on 79 to their total Sunday as No. 1 UConn rolled past Cincinnati 106-65 in American Athletic Conference action before 12,342 at XL Center. They also combined for 23 of the Huskies' 32 assists. Williams reached the 400-assist plateau Sunday, three days after Nurse got there against South Carolina.

UConn handily defeats Cincinnati, 106-65

Feb 4 | 4:24PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Napheesa Collier says she's proud of the fact that UConn never plays down to the level of its opposition.

Read More

Share:

Huskies looking for another growth spurt

By Carl Adamec | Feb 3 | 5:36PM

Share:

Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Napheesa Collier reacts with guard Gabby Williams after a play against the UCF Knights in the second half of the semifinals during the women's AAC Conference Tournament at Mohegun Sun Arena. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

Katie Lou Samuelson made her first and only shot, a layup, when the University of Connecticut women's basketball team beat South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena her freshman year.

Read More

Share:

UConn stays close with no. 8 Cincinnati, loses, 65-57

Feb 3 | 2:30PM

Share:

GEICO SportsNite: UConn00:00:53

UConn men's basketball saw great performances from Jalen Adams and Christian Vital, but the Huskies fell short against Cincinnati.

You can count one of the program's former rival coaches among those thinking Cincinnati can be a real factor come NCAA Tournament time.

"I think they've got an outstanding team that could get to the Final Four depending on who they play, the health, and if they bring their 'A' game," former Xavier coach and current CBS Sports Network radio analyst Pete Gillen told the Cincinnati Enquirer this week.

"You need a player that can make a big shot down the stretch," Gillen said. "I think Jacob Evans can do that. Gary Clark can do that. Usually those last games tend to be low-scoring. Coaches get a little conservative. You need guys that can put it on the deck and create. That, and great defense. Defense travels on the road and in your tournaments."

Read More

Share:

Nurse's layup line not that easy

By Carl Adamec | Feb 2 | 11:00PM

Share:

(Jonathan Dyer)

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- There are times that Kia Nurse makes 3-point shots look like layups.

But how the senior guard looks on layups has UConn coach Geno Auriemma wanting to pull some of his hair out.

"Kia explodes to the basket but the ball comes off her hand like at her palm," Auriemma said Thursday night. "I'm like, 'You're on the (Canadian) Olympic team and that's how you shoot layups?' "

Huskies have no problems with South Carolina

By Carl Adamec | Feb 1 | 10:55PM

Share:

Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Napheesa Collier reacts with guard Gabby Williams after a play against the UCF Knights in the second half of the semifinals during the women's AAC Conference Tournament at Mohegun Sun Arena. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

Having played here two years ago as a sophomore, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's senior All-American was confident she and her fellow upperclassmen with experience here could handle anything reigning national champion South Carolina and a sellout crowd of 18,000 could throw at them.

The Huskies opened things up early to lead 53-24 at the half on their way to a 21-0 start for the fourth time in five seasons. They extended their NCAA mark with their 48th straight road win and, if anyone needed more evidence, marked themselves the clear favorite for another NCAA title.

No. 7 South Carolina (18-4) fell to 0-6 all-time against UConn and 0-15 in program history against No. 1 teams.

Read More

Share:

No. 1 UConn challenges national champion South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- On Jan. 3, 1998, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team was welcomed by 24,597 orange-clad fans to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. The 84-69 loss to Tennessee marks the only time in program history the Huskies have played the reigning national champion on the road.

That will change.

A crowd of 18,000 is expected here Thursday night as 2017 national champion and No. 7 South Carolina entertains top-ranked UConn for a non-league showdown at Colonial Life Arena.

Megan Walker had the best seven-day stretch of her young career with the University of Connecticut women's basketball team and she was rewarded for it on Monday.

Walker was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week for the first time. In league wins over Memphis and Tulane she averaged 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Her week-long surge actually began on Jan. 21 when she had a season-high 22 points to go with six rebounds and five assists over 32 minutes in a 113-57 win at Temple. She then had 10 points and six rebounds in the 93-36 victory at Memphis last Wednesday. Then on Saturday against Tulane at Gampel Pavilion, she had 13 points and two assists in a 98-45 triumph...

Read More

Share:

UConn blown out on the road by Temple

Jan 28 | 10:20PM

Share:

GEICO SportsNite: UConn loses00:00:50

The UConn men's basketball team continued their struggles Sunday night, falling to Temple, 85-57.

Huskies earn high marks off the court

Connecticut Huskies guard Kia Nurse after the game against the Memphis Lady Tigers at Elma Roane Field House. (Justin Ford/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- The University of Connecticut women's basketball team shot a near-school record 72.2 percent from the floor Saturday in its 98-45 American Athletic Conference win over Tulane at Gampel Pavilion.

But the Huskies were even better when it came to being represented Thursday at "3.0 night" during halftime of the UConn-SMU men's game. Nine players on the 12-player roster (75 percent) were among the 361 student-athletes honored by UConn's Division of Athletics.

STORRS, Conn. (AP) Katie Lou Samuelson scored 15 of her 19 points in the first half to lead UConn to a 98-45 rout of Tulane on Saturday and a 20-0 start to the season for the 11th time in program history.

Kia Nurse scored 14 for the Huskies (9-0 American Athletic Conference) and tied a career high with seven rebounds.

UConn had six players in double figures for the sixth time this season.

UConn confirms NCAA investigation of men's basketball program

Jan 26 | 8:13AM

Connecticut Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie yells towards his players during the second half of the game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at the Reynolds Center. (Brett Rojo/USA TODAY Sports)

The University of Connecticut confirms it is the target of an NCAA investigation into its men's basketball program.

University President Susan Herbst, in a statement released Friday morning, says the school is committed to "a culture of compliance" and intends to fully cooperate with the investigation in a "thorough and transparent manner."

UConn (19-0, 8-0 American Athletic Conference) trailed only briefly in the opening minutes before beating Memphis for the ninth time overall and second time this season.

The Huskies routed Memphis 97-49 when the Tigers visited Dec. 31. The venue changed, but not the final result with UConn winning in a more smothering fashion despite coach Geno Auriemma pulling all but one starter in the third quarter. The Huskies held Memphis to fewer points in each of the first three quarters.

Dangerfield, Huskies head to Memphis

The opening minute of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's game at Temple Sunday seemed more like the 41st minute of Thursday's game against Tulsa as the Owls scored the first six points.